Flow cytometry: past and future

• Published in: BioTechniques Vol. 72; no. 4; pp. 159 - 169
• Main Author: Robinson, J Paul
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Future Science Ltd 01-04-2022; Taylor & Francis Group
• Subjects: cell function; Cell Separation; Flow Cytometry; fluorescence; light scatter; phenotyping; second-generation spectral cytometry; single cell; sorting; spectral flow cytometry; cell function; single cell; fluorescence; sorting; light scatter; second-generation spectral cytometry; phenotyping; spectral flow cytometry
• ISSN: 0736-6205; 1940-9818
• DOI: 10.2144/btn-2022-0005

Flow cytometry is a single-cell technology that measures scatter and fluorescence to establish a set of unique cellular properties. Flow cytometry is used in many areas of science, in particular biotechnology and medicine, but also in industrial applications. Flow cytometry can identify multiple phenotypic subsets from a mixture, select a single cell and even isolate that cell by a process called cell sorting. The field is currently undergoing dramatic changes. We are moving rapidly from the polychromic flow cytometry that has been the go-to technology for 45 years to spectral flow cytometry, which is now the most significant change in nearly half a century of flow cytometry. With change comes opportunity. Even spectral flow cytometry will morph into second-generation spectral flow cytometry within 5 years. New, exciting features will open up molecular diagnostics and physiology to flow cytometry.
Flow cytometry, a core biotechnology, is changing rapidly. Next-generation instruments will be transformational in biomedicine. Spectral flow cytometry is the new standard, but even it will soon morph into the second generation.